DONE

Hi Everyone,

Well, we are officially done with radiation. We are soooo happy! Randy went to see "Wolverine" at the theater this morning to celebrate. :-) I will enjoy it more next week when things aren't quite so busy. I've added a few photo's for you to check out of Randy's radiation mask. Enjoy!

Rachel

Day 29...one more remaining

Hi Everyone,

Well Randy is looking forward to his last radiation treatment tomorrow. Things have been really going well and we are praying that all continues to run smoothly. Randy does have a bit of stubborn yeast build up (radiation does a number on your mouth) and so they are switching meds and giving him something stronger (he'll start that tonight). We are really praying that his tastebuds return to normal quickly following radiation (maybe from radiation, maybe from the yeast). He lost 7 lbs. in one week as a result of not enjoying the taste of food :-(

Anyway, we also found out that Randy isn't allowed to drive for at least another month. Dr. Pieper (neurosurgeon) will re-evaluate this on May 27th...Randy was pretty bummed out about that news. So...I will continue to drive him around to all of the wonderful places he wants to go. It does get exhausting at times, however I am soooooooooo thankful that he is here with me for me to be able to do the driving!!! :-)

He will have a follow up appointment with Dr. Chan (radiation oncologist) in 4 weeks and that is the fist of several. We will be professional waiting room folks by the time this is all said and done :-)

We are doing great...we can't wait for radiation to end tomorrow. I'll be taking Randy to the movie theater on Wednesday for his celebratory viewing of "Wolverine." He thought he could drive himself there...oh well...he'll still get to see it :-)

We will continue to keep you posted.

Much Love,
Randy, Rachel and Joshua

p.s.
did you know that May is National Brain Tumor Month??? Thanks Aunt Joan for the tip!!! How cool!!!

Wrapping it up

Hi Everyone!!!

Well, Randy and I are on the count down. Only 2 more radiation treatments left (Monday and Tuesday). We are thrilled! God has really poured out His blessings to us during this time. Randy's side effects haven't been horrible and he is just now starting to notice more hair loss...at the end...how cool! He is still struggling with his taste buds so we are praying that his taste returns shortly after treatment ends. God really is an awesome God!!!

The impact of what happened and what could have been (although we know the "could haves" were never in Gods plans) is just starting to settle in for Randy a bit. He truly sees how delicate life really is and how intricate the brain is...in the same sense we both realize that God is the creator of life and He has so delicately orchestrated our every breath!!!! Yeah God.

We will keep you posted as we celebrate the last 2 days of treatment. Please pray with us as we look forward to a post radiation MRI...we want the best results possible. We are also asking for prayer for a friend of ours. We just recently found out that our friends son (Doug) has been diagnosed with malignant tumors in his spine. He is 15 years old and is at Beaumont recovering from surgery, undergoing physical therapy, and preparing for radiation. Please pray with us for complete healing in his body and for strength and peace for the entire family!!! We know that God is the Great Physician and we are believing for more miracles!

Thanks again everyone...until we chat again,

Randy, Rachel and Joshua

Day 24

Well, we met with Dr. Chan today and she is very happy with how Randy is doing. His tastebuds are starting to experience some side effects...food tastes a bit bland. However, the doctor is treating him for yeast in his mouth and said that the mouth rinse used for that might take care of the tastebud situation. Anyway, that is about all on the update front. We are counting down...6 more radiation treatments....yahoo!!!

Love,
Randy and Rachel

Days 19-23

Greetings,

Well, we have finished up yet another fun filled week of radiation treatments and physical therapy. Randy is doing great! His energy is still lower than normal, however that is the only real side effect he his having outside of an occasional headache. Yeah God!!!

Randy had his last physical therapy session on Friday. His therapist did request another script for therapy which the dr's office gave, however as long as Randy continues to do his exercises at home he can stay clear of outpatient therapy for now. He is thrilled!

We have 7 days left of radiation. They will be increasing his dosage this week and are praying that he continues to move through this as wonderfully as he has thus far. We will meet with his radiation oncologist 2 more times before the treatments end. Then we will head for another MRI and his follow up appointment with his surgeon. We are praying that this course of radiation treatment worked and that there aren't any signs of this tumor on his brain stem or anywhere near it...cells be gone!!!

Please continue to pray with us for an awesome report from Randy's doctor and of course that as we return for MRI's throughout the year and years to come that this thing never returns in any way shape or form. We have been blown away at how many people have come along side us to support us through this and we know that God has been answering prayers like crazy. We have a great testimony to share and are willing to share it with everyone.

We hope that if you are in the Michigan area you were able to get out and enjoy some of the wonderful weather we have had in the past few days. If not...well, we hope wherever you are the weather has been top notch as well.

Have a great weekend....we sure are!

Love,
Randy, Rachel, and Joshua

Days 14-17

Hi Everyone,

Yeah...tomorrow is Friday and day 18! Randy is doing very well. He has the occasional headache, but they have increased his radiation dosage so that is to be expected. He is also still tired, but we are more than willing to work with that.

Randy will finish out his last week of Physical Therapy next week (Tuesay, Thursday and Friday). We can't wait! His neck has gained a great amount of range of motion since his days in the hospital and he is looking forward to getting all back in the near future. He is also starting to get the itch to start driving and I am getting the itch to give up the keys. :-) It will all come about in due time.

Again, we continue to be overwhelmed at the love and support we have received through this process. You have each blessed us in a very deep and personal way. Thank you.

Have a great weekend. We will be getting our house back into some type of order after a brief stint with some updating (thanks mom and dad for letting us hang out at your house these past couple of days). We may also be able to spend some time hanging out with some of our friends and giving Joshua some time to play with other kids. :-)

Until we chat again...love,
Randy and Rachel

Days 9-13

Hello Everyone,

I apologize that I haven't written since last week. We've been rather busy recently with juggling treatment appointments and having contractors in and out of the house (we are getting some minor updating done in 2 of our bedrooms - Randy can't do much these days so we are blessed to have a great contractor helping us out). Anyway, things are going very well for Randy. We are plugging along through radiation treatments and looking forward to the last 2 weeks of Physical Therapy (only 6 more visits to go).

Randy has his MRI scheduled for May 20th and a follow up appointment with his neurosurgeon scheduled for May 27th. We are continuing to pray that the results of radiation treatment show ZERO remnants of a tumor and that Randy gets a 100% clean bill of health from the doctor on the 27th!!!

As we prepare to celebrate this Good Friday and the Resurrection of our Lord on Easter Sunday we are humbled now more than ever at the sacrifice Christ gave to us on the cross. He gave up His life for Randy and I (and for you) so that when we made the decision to live for Him we could rest assured that we could live for eternity with Him! When I think about this sacrifice and think about the fact that Randy is still with me, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. I still have my husband, Joshua still has his daddy and we know that God has us cradled gently in His hands and for that we say ... THANK YOU JESUS! How incredible to know that such a sacrifice was made for us and even more incredible to know that through His death we have life and that indeed Christ is risen -is alive and working in our lives today - and that He loves us with a love that is the purest and most meaningful love of all.

Enjoy your weekend everyone, celebrate the goodness of God and give your family a huge hug and kiss and let them know that you love them! We love you too!

Love,
Randy and Rachel

Days 7 and 8

Hi Everyone,

Ahhh...a nice weekend break from radiation. Weekends are the best! We started things off last night with a lovely Italian dinner with Randy's parents at Papa Vino's....yum! Today, we plan on taking photo's of stuff we want to sell on Craigslist and figure out if we should have our bedroom and spare room painted and carpeted...maybe that should be our next poll :-)

Anyway, Randy is doing well. He has had a couple of more headaches, but we are happy to say that Tylenol is a wonderful product that has taken those headaches away. A couple of people have asked about the dizzy spells. For the most part they are gone. He will occasionally experience a "falling" sensation when he closes his eyes, but it isn't anything severe. Randy has also had 2 days of outpatient physical therapy. His neck is quite sore and tight and he wonders if it will ever loosen up again (it will). He is being very good about doing his exercises at home as well!!!

We took Joshua with us to our Friday radiation appointment. God was so good. They were ready for Randy right when we walked in the door and 15 minutes later we were out of there! Of course, everyone loved Joshua. He was such a good boy...I was so concerned about taking him because I knew that the majority of patients there were older and very sick and probably not to into dealing with a toddler running around. The 15 minute visit was perfect and I think it lightened the mood at least for a moment. Yeah God!

I will be sure to post more next week...until then...thanks for reading and thanks for praying!

Love,
Randy, Rachel and Joshua

Days 5 and 6

Greetings,


Well, Randy just finished up his 6th radiation treatment today along with a consultation at the physical therapy center. Things are moving right along. We met with his radiation oncologist today and she is pleased that things are going well. All of us are praying that he continues to respond well to his treatments. We are monitoring his headaches and "balance" issues. He's only had 2 headaches at this point and occasional dizzy spells or off balanced episodes (typically when he closes his eyes). The doctor told us that the dizziness could increase as we progress through radiation due to the location of the treatment...cerebellum/brain stem...the equilibrium portion of the brain. As far as headaches...just praying that they don't increase or become uncontrollable with Tylenol. If they do increase it would indicate brain swelling and Randy would have to go back on steroids...not what we want.

His physical therapy will start up again either tomorrow or Friday at 3x/week for 4 weeks. We are pros at handling waiting rooms these days :-)

Anyway, all is good. God has blessed us beyond measure and we continue to Praise Him. We are spending quite a bit of time writing out questions for our appointment in May with Randy's neurosurgeon to go over more of what the future will/should/could hold. Our prayers continue to focus on complete healing and restoration without any recurrence.

Thank you again for everything. Every kind word, prayer, meal, gas card, note, email, household and childcare help has made this whole process much easier to walk through.

Love,
Randy, Rachel and Joshua

Day 4

Hi Everyone,

Randy is doing really well with his radiation treatments. I've noticed certain areas in which his hair is starting to thin. They told us that he would lose portions of his hair so we've been anticipating it.
He also finished up his last day of in home physical therapy today with Sam. We will start up out patient therapy on Wednesday. Our hope is to have therapy 3x/week before radiation then leave from there straight to the cancer radiation center for those treatments. That will be our life for the next 4 weeks or so. Then just plain old radiation until through the first week of May, another MRI, and follow up with his neurosurgeon.
Also, we would like to thank everyone that has so graciously provided us with a meal and meals to freeze. I can't tell you how much that helps me out. I now have the meals planned out on my calendar and I literally don't have to think. It is a tremendous blessing. Everyday I look at the clock and wonder where the day went. The meals allow me to take just a minute to breathe as I wrap up the day....thank you!
Anyway, I probably won't post again until next week...have a great weekend!
Love,
Rachel